It will also have a major effect on suppliers of products and services to the government’s infrastructure as it seeks to balance its use of proprietary and open source technologies. The standards will encourage more flexible IT contracts and provide access to the wider marketplace, reflecting the government’s determination to move away from tie-in to long-term deals.

Standards Hub

To assist the board, interested parties have also been invited to register to assist by organising workshops and working groups on a voluntary basis. These “Standards Hub” members will be able to present ideas and proposals to the board.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude (pictured) said, “The Open Standards Board has a key role to play in establishing the open standards that should be used when the government buys its IT, so that we can make sure that we choose what best meets our users’ needs.”

The appointees include experts from inside and outside government with track records in open standards development and implementation. Their expertise, combined with the government’s own research and feedback received through the online Standards Hub is aimed at ensuring future strategic decisions are properly informed.